Lottery winner dies just weeks after scooping jackpot
A carpenter who hit the big time when he scooped up a $1.24 million lottery win has died just three weeks later.
New York resident Donald Louis Savastano had already planned how he’d spend his winnings after his $10 Merry Millionaire scratchie won big on January 4.
With no retirement plans in place, the self-employed carpenter said the money would change their lives.
“I’ll buy a new truck, pay off some debt and invest for the future,” he told WBNG-TV earlier this month.
"This is going to change our lives to tell you the truth."
But just weeks later, the 51-year-old passed away after recently being diagnosed with stage four cancer.
An obituary published over the weekend described Mr Savastano as a hard-working man known for his high-quality work and perfectionism.
“He always tried to reach out and help those he could by teaching them ‘the right way to do things’,” the obituary stated.
“Don was thought of as a wonderful and even an angelic person by those who knew him and will be greatly missed.”
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